Prince Charles has been in the news twice in the past few weeks for his attacks on British architecture.

His most recent comments referred to the Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall at Essex University’s Colchester campus, pictured above. To the amusement of the paratroopers he addressed there, the prince suggested that the £6m stainless steel-clad building, designed by Patel Taylor, ressembled a dustbin. What ever makes him think that?

His comments followed remarks made at the end of January at a planning and heritage conference in St James’ Palace, London. HRH is distressed that tall buildings threaten to dwarf beautiful existing buildings and suggested that they should be contained in Canary Wharf. ‘It’s not just one carbuncle… on the face of a beloved old friend, but a positive rash, which will disfigure precious views and disinherit future generations of Londoners,’ he said.

Of course, it’s not the first time Prince Charles has attacked modern architecture. Remember his ‘monstrous carbuncle’ speech of 1984?

The architectural community reacted, predictably again this time, by claiming that the heir to the throne has no idea what he is talking about. Architect Ted Cullinham commented: ‘Prince Charles is a member of the English land-owning gentry. They love Georgian architecture because they have been brought up in it, and have lived in it all their lives. It doesn’t make it very easy to see the world as it actually is.’

Meanwhile, those of us who haven’t been brought up amidst Georgian architecture might wonder whether some of our beloved architects can see the world as it actually is…

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Construction Manager